HRAs benefit everyone – single individuals, families, and soon-to-be retirees. You will appreciate your HRA because you don’t pay taxes on the money in your account or your reimbursed expenses. See how the savings add up on our HRA Savings Examples page.

What expenses are covered under an HRA?

Only eligible expenses can be reimbursed under your HRA. These expenses are defined by IRS rules and your employer’s plan. Learn more about eligible HRA expenses by reading the Summary Plan Description (SPD).

Eligible expenses are those that you pay for out of your pocket for medical care that’s provided to you, your spouse, and eligible dependents. Generally, IRS rules state that medical care includes items and services that are meant to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent illness or disease. Transportation that is primarily for medical care is also included. Here are some examples:

No double-dipping – Expenses reimbursed under your HRA cannot be reimbursed under any other plan or program. Only your out-of-pocket health care expenses are eligible for reimbursement. Plus, expenses reimbursed under an HRA may not be deducted when you file your tax return.

Are over-the-counter medicines eligible expenses?

Yes, if your plan allows them. However, OTC medicines now require a prescription to be an eligible HRA expense. IRS rules changed on January 1, 2011 because of health care reform legislation. The new rules state that OTC medicines and drugs are no longer eligible for reimbursement under an HRA unless prescribed by a doctor (or another person who can issue a prescription) in the state where you purchase the OTC medicines.

Any claim you submit for reimbursement that has an OTC medicine expense must include a Request for Reimbursement Form and one of the following types of supporting documentation:

A written or electronic OTC prescription along with an itemized cash register receipt that includes the merchant name, name of the OTC medicine or drug, purchase date, and amount

A printed pharmacy statement or receipt from a pharmacy that includes the patient’s name, the Rx number, the date the prescription was filled, and the amount

Allergy medication, aspirin and pain relievers, as well as first aid creams and ointments are examples of OTC medicines that require a prescription. Learn more on our Over-the-counter Expenses page.

Please Note: Prescription medicines and insulin (including over-the-counter insulin) aren’t affected by this change. You can follow the same process when buying these items and submitting claims.

What over-the-counter items are still eligible expenses?

If your plan allows, these items such Band-Aids and thermometers are eligible for reimbursement through your HRA. A detailed list of examples is on our Over-the-counter Expenses page.

What expenses are not covered under an HRA?

Expenses that are not approved are called “ineligible expenses.” The expenses that are ineligible under a health FSA tend to be ineligible under an HRA, including:

Cosmetic surgery and procedures, including teeth whitening

Herbs, vitamins, and supplements used for general health

OTC medicines that you don’t have a prescription for (except insulin)

Family or marriage counseling

Personal use items such as toothpaste, shaving cream, and makeup

Prescription drugs imported from another country

Expenses that are reimbursed by another plan or program, including a health care plan

Any other item or service that isn’t used for medical care as defined by IRS rules

These are only a few of the examples of expenses that aren’t covered by an HRA. Find a full list of eligible and ineligible expenses on our Eligible Expenses page.

Your HRA plan may have an “account cap.” This amount is a limit (or cap) on the total balance that you can have in your HRA at any given time. If you reach your account cap, your employer will not contribute any more money until the funds in your account are used and the balance falls below the cap. Your employer may also include an HRA rollover maximum that limits the amount that you can carry over from one year to the next. These details can be found in your Summary Plan Description (SPD).

The maximum reimbursement amount you can receive is equal to your account balance at the time your reimbursement request is processed. If your reimbursement request is more than the amount you have in your account, the unreimbursed portion will pend and then will process when your HRA account balance can cover the expense(s).

What if an expense is eligible for reimbursement under both my HRA and health FSA?

The answer depends on how your employer designs your plan. If you have both an HRA and a health flexible spending account (FSA), review your Summary Plan Description (SPD) to find out which account pays first. You may not choose which account will cover the expense. Your expense will be reimbursed by the plan that’s set up to pay first, and when the money for that account is depleted, funds from the other account will be used toward future eligible expenses.

Important: Expenses reimbursed under your HRA may not be reimbursed under any other plan or program, including your health FSA – and vice versa. Your HRA and health FSA, while separate accounts, provide reimbursement of qualified medical expenses that are defined by your employer and the IRS. This means you can’t submit a claim for an eligible FSA expense and then request reimbursement for the same expense from your HRA. There’s no “double-dipping.”

Do I need to use the entire benefit amount during the coverage period?

Generally, HRA funds are not forfeited at the end of the coverage period and may be rolled over into future years. However, the rollover feature is not available for all plans. If unavailable, most often you forfeit the funds in your account after the plan year. An HRA balance cannot be cashed out, rolled over into another plan, or used for any purpose other than reimbursement of eligible medical expenses. Refer to your Summary Plan Description (SPD) to see if your plan offers the rollover feature.

How do I request reimbursement?

You must submit a completed and signed Request for Reimbursement Form along with appropriate proof of purchase for each product or service listed on your form.

Appropriate documentation includes:

For office visits – Your health plan's Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement or an itemized receipt or bill from the provider that includes the patient's name, a description of the service, the original date of service, and your portion of the charge.

For prescription drugs – A pharmacy statement or receipt including the patient's name, the Rx number, the name of the drug, the date the prescription was filled, and the amount.

For over-the-counter medicines – A written or electronic OTC prescription along with an itemized cash register receipt that includes the merchant name, name of the OTC medicine or drug, purchase date, and amount; OR a printed pharmacy statement or receipt that includes the patient’s name, the Rx number, the date the prescription was filled, and the amount.

For over-the-counter health care-related products – An itemized cash register receipt with the merchant name, name of the item/product, date, and amount.

For qualified insurance premiums – a copy of the insurance premium billing notice AND proof of payment (such as a copy of front and back of check, credit card confirmation, etc.) for qualified insurance policies. Itemized bills must include the name of the insurance provider, name of participant/insured, amount charged, and coverage dates.

Your employer chooses the reimbursement schedule. You can find out how often reimbursements are made by reading the Summary Plan Description.

Where can I get a reimbursement request form?

Just log in to your online account and find the form by clicking the Access a Form quick link.

How do I keep track of my account activity?

Your HRA information is available any time day or night by logging in to your online account.

Is there a deadline for submitting claims?

In most cases, yes, there is a time limit for filing claims. Find the details for your plan by reviewing the Summary Plan Description (SPD).

What if I stop working for this employer?

Your plan participation will end automatically. Expenses for services you have after your termination date typically are not eligible for reimbursement.

However, some HRA plans include a “spend-down” provision that allows HRA participants to submit eligible HRA expenses, incurred during a specific time frame, after termination. This assumes participants continue to meet all other requirements. The spend-down feature is not available for all plans, so refer to your Summary Plan Description for specific details related to your plan

Please Note: You may be entitled to elect COBRA continuation coverage under the HRA and receive reimbursement for eligible HRA expenses incurred after your termination. You must be eligible and make the required COBRA premium payment. Find further details in your Summary Plan Description.